Matthew Farber teaches social studies at Valleyview Middle School, in Denville, New Jersey. Mr. Farber is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Technology Leadership at New Jersey City University. He is also on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies. His book, Gamify Your Classroom: A Field Guide to Game-Based Learning, from Peter Lang Academic, is available from Amazon.
Ayiti: The Cost of Life (free; PC/Mac):A human rights in which the player is a young, poverty-stricken child in Haiti.
Darfur Is Dying(free; PC/Mac):One of the first social impact titles, its message still resonates today. Missions task players with foraging for water while outrunning the militia, as well as experiences daily life in a refugee camp.
Digital Compass (free) from Common Sense, a choice-based game about digital citizenship.
Never Alone(paid; PC, Xbox, PlayStation) is from E-Line Media and Upper One Games. It is the first game adapted from an Iñupiat folk story.
Third World Farmer(free; PC/Mac) isa simulation game about the difficulties of farming in a developing country. Family economics are among the issues to resolve.
Quandary__(free; PC/Mac) is an award-winning game about ethical dilemmas, or quandaries. In it, players must assemble a team to colonize a new planet.
SimCityEDU(paid, PC/Mac) is a city management game to teach systems thinking competencies. There is a teacher dashboard available to track progress.
MinecraftEdu(paid, with school discounts, PC/Mac) is a first-person building block game.
Argubot Academy(paid, iPad) teaches argumentation competencies using a trading card mechanic. There is a teacher dashboard available to track progress.
Civilization(paid, iPad, PC, Mac, Consoles) is a nation-building game.
Tabletop Games:
Galactic Mappers(free download) is a paper-based geography game.
Socratic Smackdown(free download) is a discussion strategy game that is student centered, from the Institute of Play
Absolute Blast (free download) is a printable game from the Institute of Play that teaches absolute value
Pandemic(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Cooperative board game, everyone all wins -- or loses -- together. Teaches systems thinking using an interconnected map of the world.
Settlers of Catan(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Timeless resource management game.
Ticket to Ride(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Easy to learn, difficult to master. Teaches systems thinking using an interconnected map of the world.
Matthew Farber teaches social studies at Valleyview Middle School, in Denville, New Jersey. Mr. Farber is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Technology Leadership at New Jersey City University. He is also on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies. His book, Gamify Your Classroom: A Field Guide to Game-Based Learning, from Peter Lang Academic, is available from Amazon.
Coding & Authoring Tools:
Resources and Lesson Plans:
Institute of Play Q Design Guides
Institute of Play Mission Guides
Moveable Game Jam Initiative
BrainPOP GameUp
GlassLab Games
Digital Games to Play:
Ayiti: The Cost of Life (free; PC/Mac):A human rights in which the player is a young, poverty-stricken child in Haiti.
Darfur Is Dying(free; PC/Mac):One of the first social impact titles, its message still resonates today. Missions task players with foraging for water while outrunning the militia, as well as experiences daily life in a refugee camp.
Digital Compass (free) from Common Sense, a choice-based game about digital citizenship.
Never Alone(paid; PC, Xbox, PlayStation) is from E-Line Media and Upper One Games. It is the first game adapted from an Iñupiat folk story.
Third World Farmer(free; PC/Mac) isa simulation game about the difficulties of farming in a developing country. Family economics are among the issues to resolve.
Quandary__(free; PC/Mac) is an award-winning game about ethical dilemmas, or quandaries. In it, players must assemble a team to colonize a new planet.
SimCityEDU(paid, PC/Mac) is a city management game to teach systems thinking competencies. There is a teacher dashboard available to track progress.
MinecraftEdu(paid, with school discounts, PC/Mac) is a first-person building block game.
Argubot Academy(paid, iPad) teaches argumentation competencies using a trading card mechanic. There is a teacher dashboard available to track progress.
Parable of the Polygons(free, PC/Mac) is a playable blogpost about discrimination.
Do I Have a Right?(free, PC/Mac)
That’s Your Right(free, PC/Mac)
Valiant Hearts: The Great War(free episode, iPad) is a graphic novel and game about World War I
Civilization(paid, iPad, PC, Mac, Consoles) is a nation-building game.
Tabletop Games:
Galactic Mappers(free download) is a paper-based geography game.
Socratic Smackdown(free download) is a discussion strategy game that is student centered, from the Institute of Play
Absolute Blast (free download) is a printable game from the Institute of Play that teaches absolute value
Pandemic(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Cooperative board game, everyone all wins -- or loses -- together. Teaches systems thinking using an interconnected map of the world.
Settlers of Catan(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Timeless resource management game.
Ticket to Ride(board game, available at most retailers, like Amazon): Easy to learn, difficult to master. Teaches systems thinking using an interconnected map of the world.